Best colleges for Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Moody Bible Institute, Loyola University Chicago and Olivet Nazarene University award the most Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries degrees and certificates in Illinois: 64, 42 and 28 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 13 Illinois colleges offer Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries and award 223 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries program focuses on equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary for effective ministry and counseling within various religious contexts. This program is ideal for individuals…
Top institution, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moody Bible Institute Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,426 | 64 | 62% | $24,848 | $12,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries degrees in Illinois
Top 6 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moody Bible Institute Chicago Private not-for-profit | 64 | $35,426 |
| 2 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 42 | Not reported |
| 3 | Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais Private not-for-profit | 28 | Not reported |
| 4 | Trinity International University - Illinois Deerfield Private not-for-profit | 11 | Not reported |
| 5 | Judson University Elgin Private not-for-profit | 3 | Not reported |
| 6 | North Park University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 2 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 7 Illinois colleges offering Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catholic Theological Union at Chicago (Graduate only) | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 20 |
| Northern Baptist Theological Seminary (Graduate only) | Lisle | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (Graduate only) | Evanston | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (Graduate only) | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| McCormick Theological Seminary (Graduate only) | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| University of Saint Mary of the Lake (Graduate only) | Mundelein | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Meadville Theological School of Lombard College (Graduate only) | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Clergy (SOC 21-2011).
Top skills
What Clergy earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries degrees?+
Moody Bible Institute (64 graduates a year), Loyola University Chicago (42 graduates a year) and Olivet Nazarene University (28 graduates a year) award the most Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries degrees and certificates in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 13 Illinois colleges offer Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries.
Which Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Moody Bible Institute tops the list at $35,426. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Clergy earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Clergy in Illinois is $62,490 (median $61,820), across about 2,200 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries program?+
The Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries program focuses on equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary for effective ministry and counseling within various religious contexts. This program is ideal for individuals…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, active listening, writing, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Clergy?+
The national job outlook is about +1.0% growth with around 23,000 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card